Improvement in presses



E. B. PLATTQ Presses.

Patented April 29, 1873 AM PHDTO-UTIIDGRAPH/L 00 MY (psnomvs rnaczss) UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

EPENETUS B. PLATT, OF FLORENCE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 138,432, dated April 29, 1873; application filed September 25, 1872.

invented a certain new and useful Impr0vement in Hay or Cotton Presses, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Objects of Intention.

My invention relates to a hay or cotton press which combines in its construction a double or single horizontal press-box with sliding heads and gearing for operating the same, and with axles and truck-wheels for the convenient transportation of the press; and it consists in a device whereby the doors of the press may be opened or closed by the same mechanism, and in a swiveling seat for the driver, pivoted at the end of a sweep to which the horses are attached which furnish the motive power. It further consists in the combination, with the essential elements of a horizontal press, such as described, of hoisting devices for opening the doors so connected to the frame-work of the press that they may be turned down into horizontal positions to clear the way for the sweep.

Description of Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a press embodying my invention, showing one double door opened and one closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a drawing of the pinion, showing the manner in which it is attached to the screw.

Genera-l Description.

A is the frame of a horizontal cotton or hay press having two chambers, to a, represented with one double door, B, open, showing the sliding head 0 and the other double door B with the mechanism foroperating said doors in an upright position. D is a revolving sweep for attaching horses which furnish the motive power, having at its outer end a pivoted seat, (I, and being attached at its inner end to a beveled gear-wheel, E, which operates a beveled pinion, F, which is fixed on the shank of the screw G by means of the hexagonal thimble or bush f and being fastened to the stationary head or partition H by means of the collar 9 rotates said screw in either direction, so as to push the sliding heads 0 or O in upon the material, hay, cotton, or other substance to be compressed. The double doors B B have ribs 11 b b 1) upon their upper surfaces, to which are affixedmetallic ears or lugs b b b b and are retained in a closed position by means of metallic hoops h h, or a swinging loop of metal, 1', having a similar operation. J J are swinging standards hinged to the sides of the frame A, and having at their upper extremities sheaves j j. Hinged to the opposite sides of the frame A are two swinging frames, K K, which support upon their cross-bars k k sheaves k k, and cords m m, passing over these sheaves j k j k, are

attached to the doors B B at their free extremities and operate as follows: The hooks and latches h b being previously disengaged a forcible and sudden pull upon the cords m m throws the doors B B open, and releases the pressed bale, while by a similar pull, the doors may be closed for the pressing of another bale, the standards and swinging frames being atterward allowed to fall to a horizontal position to allow the motion of the sweep D. A catch, L M, consisting of'a swiveling key, L, locking under a bent latch, M, connects the two parts of the doors B B, in such a manner that one or both may be used separately or simultaneously, as may be desired. The two swinging frames K K have attached to them hinged legs n a n n, which serve as supports when thrown back to horizontal position, and a semicircular bow of metal, 0 0, which acts as a rest for the doors when opened. A cylindrical tube, q, upon one of the uprights of the frame, filled with India rubber, acts as a buffer or spring to relieve the shock of their sudden contact with the frame A, when, by a smart pull of the cords m m, they are drawn quickly to an upright position. pp are ropes for tying up the compressed bale, and Q Q are truck-wheels, mounted upon axles R R for the convenient transportation of the press, one pair being allowed to swivel or traverse like the forward wheels of an ordinary carriage for the purpose of changing direction or turning corners.

The box or chamber a being filled with hay or cotton and the double door B closed and hooked by the rotation of the sweep D and action of the beveled gears E F and screw G, the sliding head 0 is pushed horizontally into said chamber, compressing the contained material to the desired size, when the operation being completed the operation of the sweep D is stopped, and the standards J J and swinging frames K K are raised to an upright position, the doors B unlatched, and the bale released by pulling the cord m. The action of the sweep is now reversed and a similar pressure applied to the chamber a, which has meanwhile been filled with material, thus obtaining a continuous alternate operation of the two chambers. These chambers have grooves and perforations in their bottoms for the reception of the ropes p p for tying and lifting out the bale from the press.

G, gearing E F, and sweep D, relatively arranged as set forth in combination with the swinging standards J J, swinging frames K K, and suitable tackle for operating the doors B 33, substantially as and for the purpose specifie 2. In combination with the swinging doors B B the swinging standards J J with their sheaves j j, the swinging frames K K with their sheaves 70 k, and the cords m m operating to make the same cord pulled in the same direction-act to both open and close the doors.

3. In combination with the sweep D the swiveling seat at pivoted to the end of the sweep, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EPENETUS B. PLATT.

Witnesses:

FRANK MILLWARD, H. G. WEBBER. 

